Surplus Funds

The Tax Claim Bureau has an obligation to distribute all moneys collected from any Tax Sale conducted under the provisions of RETSL, less authorized deductions. As a result, the record owner(s) of the property at the time of tax sale, “prior owner(s)”, may be entitled to any remaining surplus funds. 

To claim existing surplus funds the prior owner(s) of the property sold at tax sale must fill out a Distribution Affidavit, have it notarized and return it to the Bureau along with a copy of their valid U.S. government issued photo ID. The documents will be reviewed to determine if you are eligible to recoup said surplus funds. If all is in order, a check will be mailed in the prior owner’s name, to the mailing address given on the notarized affidavit.

The Bucks County Tax claim Bureau is not a participant in the agreement between a third party “finder” and the previous owner, therefore all surplus funds will be issued to the prior owner(s) or estate representatives to the mailing address listed on the Distribution Affidavit.

In the case of surplus funds issued to an Estate, the executor of the estate must complete the attached Distribution Affidavit, have it notarized and mail it to the Bucks County Tax Claim Bureau along with a valid U.S government issued Photo ID and short certificate. Once the documentation has been reviewed and approved, a check will be mailed in the name of the estate to the mailing address given on the Distribution Affidavit.

Documents pertaining to the tax sale can be located on the Bucks County Prothonotary website by searching the appropriate name, Docket Number, etc.